Guest Review: Because You Tempt Me by Beth Kery

Ames’ review of Because You Tempt Me by Beth Kery.

It starts with that first look, when you know you have to have him…

Francesca Arno has been commissioned to create a grand centerpiece painting for the lobby of Ian Noble’s new skyscraper. It’s at a cocktail party in her honor that she first meets him—and the attraction is immediate for Francesca. It’s also bewildering. She’s not used to such a wholesale sexual response to a stranger. Enigmatic, darkly intense, with a commanding presence, Ian completely unnerves her. And she likes it.

For Ian, she’s the kind of woman he can’t resist—one that comes all too rarely: a true innocent. But he can sense in her a desire to open up, to experiment, to give herself to the fantasies of a man in control. The first kiss, the first caress, the first challenge for a woman who craves what she’s never had—a man who gets what he wants.

I wanted to wait until all the installments for this serial were available before reading it.  I know that defeats the purpose, but I don’t like waiting.  That’s just me.

That said, I am a fan of Beth Kery’s and I was looking forward to reading this.  I know there are complaints about the price for each installment, but Books on Board had them discounted.  Worked for me.

Francesca Arno is a 23 year old masters student, working on her fine arts.  She has recently won a competition to paint a piece for businessman Ian Noble, a piece that will be showcased in the lobby of one of his buildings.  Francesca is a bit intimidated to meet the extremely wealthy businessman, but at congratulatory cocktail party, she realizes he doesn’t want to be there just as much as her, and she calms down.  And then they meet.  Ian is intense right from the get go.  He takes her back to his place to show her what he would like her to paint, something she doesn’t like, until she sees what he shows her.

And so it begins.  Ian sets up a studio for her in his apartment and she is free to come and go as she wishes.  At first Ian stays away, he knows he’s attracted to her, but he knows he has strong desires and he likes to dominate, so he stays away from her until he is unable to.  At the end of the first installment, Ian finally loses the control he had on the reins to his desire.

So what did I think?  I thought there was some promise.  I like the dynamic between Francesca and Ian.  The domineering businessman and the naive arts student.  Not the most original, but something about alpha-holes still gets me every time.  I like that he was attracted to her and tried to stay away.  And that ultimately he can’t.

Francesca’s character is not anything special.  She’s sweet, artistic, does her own thing, is unaware of how beautiful she is.  She also has a mouth that definitely gets her into trouble.  She is the opposite of Ian.  A man who is coldly logical, in control, domineering, worldly.  She’s a student, on a student’s budget, and he’s filthy, ridiculously rich.

I have a feeling this is going to play out somewhat predictably, but it’s Beth Kery and I trust her to take me on a fun and hot ride.  3.75 out of 5

This book is available from Penguin. You can buy it here in e-format.

You can read more from ~ames~ at Thrifty Reader.

Because You Are Mine Series:
Because You Tempt Me
Because I Could Not Resist
Because You Haunt Me
Because You Must Learn
Because I Said So
Because You Torment Me
Because I Need To
Because I Am Yours

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